76 year old man arrested in Malaysia for insulting PM on WhatsApp

A 76-year-old man in Malaysia has been arrested for allegedly sharing a "crude" photo of Prime Minister Najib Razak on a WhatsApp group which "insulted and hurt feelings of Malaysians", a media report said today.

The elderly man, who goes by the name Pa Ya, was arrested in Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya yesterday, Johor police chief Comm Datuk Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd said.

The suspect, who can be fined over USD 12,000 or jailed for a year or both, had uploaded the photo into a WhatsApp group called "Bicara Politik Melayu", The Star reported.Police arrested him for sharing a crude photo insulting the Prime Minister in a WhatsApp group, the report said.

"The photo has insulted and hurt the feelings of Malaysians," he said in a statement, adding that the man's mobile phone has also been seized. A police report in this regard was lodged on Friday following the posting of the photo.

Ahmad said that the suspect would be remanded at the Johor Baru court for investigations under relevant provisions of the law which carries a maximum fine of 50,000 Malaysian Ringgit

(USD 12,526) or up to a year's jail, or both upon conviction. A task force had been formed within the police force to monitor, identify and take action against those who misuse social media, Ahmad said.

"I advise the public against misusing social media applications without thinking about the consequences. We will not hesitate to take action and eventually charge those who do," he added.